SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR 07/06, 2005

UNCLAS ADANA 000137

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM TU ADANA
SUBJECT: SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY FOR 07/06, 2005


1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary for 07/06,

2005. Please note that Turkish press reports often contain
errors or exaggerations; AmConsulate Adana does not vouch for
the accuracy of the reports summarized here.

POLITICAL, SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS


2. HURRIYET (CUKUROVA): Berc Kartun, the headmen of
Vakifli village where Armenians live in Hatay, condemned
Armenian genocide allegations and said that Armenians have been
living peacefully and in secure conditions in Turkey since
Ottoman times.


3. SABAH (GUNEY): Hatay commemorated the 67th anniversary
of Turkish troops' gaining control of the Hatay province.


4. EKSPRES: A bomb placed in front of a branch of HSBC
bank in Adana exploded at around 4 a.m. There was no loss of
life, injury or damage to property. The police are currently
trying to investigate the bomb incident.


5. BOLGE/EKSPRES: Following a half-day strike of Turk
Telekom (State Telecommunications Company) employees in Adana,
Asaf Guzelce, Chairperson of the Turk Haber-Is (Turkish
Communication Workers' Union) Chapter in Adana, said that that
the employees of Turk Telekom are suffering from the
implementations adopted in the course of the company's
privatization process. Guzelce said that the practice of
subcontractors tendering for the significant services rendered
by the company would lead to incompatibilities with the Work Act
and would undermine unionist efforts.


6. OZGUR GUNDEM: Ridvan Kizgin, Chairperson of the Bingol
Human Rights Association (HRA),alleged that the attack on the
HRA building during the funeral of five security guards on June
3 (see press summary 07/05) could have been easily detected and
prevented because security officials had already heightened
security measures that day.


7. OZGUR GUNDEM: Minister of Interior Affairs Abdulkadir
Aksu announced that, among nearly 360,00 villagers who left
their villages due to terror related issues in the southeastern
region, nearly 125,000 have returned. Aksu demanded that
Governors facilitate the return of people to areas where
security issues are resolved, include NGOs in the meetings to
achieve transparency, and ease the process of NGOs'
participation and taking active roles in the project
implementations.


8. HTTP://HABER.TNN.NET: Anthrax was diagnosed in eight
people in the Cukurca village of Hakkari. The Cukurca village
is currently under quarantine and officials are not allowing any
animal in or out of the village. Health officials conducting
medical examinations in the village have not diagnosed anthrax
in other villagers.


9. RADIKAL/OZGUR GUNDEM: N.K., an eighteen-year-old girl,
who was wounded on June 15 when her brother-in-law attempted to
kill her in the name of honor in Diyarbakir, was released from
the hospital and provided lodging in a Women's Shelter House.


10. HURRIYET: French Ambassador to Turkey, Paul Paudade,
paid a visit to the Sanliurfa Governor. Paudade said that
Sanliurfa had outstanding tourism potential and great
achievements in the area have been made in terms of agriculture.


ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS


1. EKSPRES/BOLGE: Producers of corn are worried that the
TMO (Turkish Grain Board) may impose a 30-ton-quota on its corn
purchases from farmers. The TMO had already declared this quota
for its wheat purchases.